DIY Sunscreen Looks Cute on TikTok. It Won't Protect Your Skin.
Those dreamy homemade SPF recipes can leave you burning, because some of their star oils actually help UV reach your skin.
The American Academy of Dermatology warns that most homemade sunscreens lack effective sun protection, that oils such as coconut and jojoba can intensify UV penetration rather than block it, and that homemade SPF cannot be verified without standardized lab testing.
Dermatologists interviewed by TIME and Fortune stress that you cannot know a product's true SPF without controlled lab testing, and that 'natural' ingredients popularized on social media offer no measurable, reliable barrier against UV damage.
Questions we get a lot
Does coconut oil work as a sunscreen?
No. As Fortune reports, dermatologists warn that oils like coconut offer minimal UV protection and can even increase how much ultraviolet light reaches the skin. Coconut oil has been cited with a very low natural SPF that comes nowhere near the broad-spectrum protection of a tested product. Relying on it alone leaves you exposed to burning and long-term damage.
Why can't I just trust a homemade SPF recipe that looks well made?
TIME notes that an SPF number is only meaningful if it has been measured through standardized lab testing, which a home kitchen cannot replicate. Even a carefully mixed recipe can leave UV-blocking particles unevenly distributed, creating gaps in coverage. Without testing, you have no way to know whether you're getting SPF 30 or essentially no protection.
What should I use instead of DIY sunscreen?
Use a commercially produced, broad-spectrum sunscreen that has gone through regulated testing, which is the consistent advice in both TIME and Fortune. These products list a verified SPF, are tested for stability, and come in mineral and chemical formats to suit different skin types. If cost or ingredients are the concern, there are many affordable, well-reviewed options that are far safer than a homemade blend.
r/SkincareAddiction: 'I keep seeing creators whip up sunscreen with beeswax and coconut oil and swear by it, is there any version of DIY SPF that's actually safe?'